Cigar machine



Jan 26, 1954 H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE Filed Nov.. 26, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR HENRY H. WHEELER ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1954 H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 26, 1946 INVEIQTOR BY HENRY H. WHEELER Err/,4

ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1954 H. H. WHEELER" CIGAR MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 26, 1946 INVENTOR HENRY H. WHEELER ATTORNEY 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 KO m ' INVENTOR HENRY H. WHEELER H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE Jan. 26, 1954 Filed Nov. 26, 1946 m QE ATTORNEY Jan. 26, 1954 H, WHEELER I 2,667,173

- CIGAR MACHINE Filed NOV. 26, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HENRY H. WHEELER ATTORNEY I Jan. 26, 1954 H. H. WHEELER CIGAR MACHINE Filed NOV. 26, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 Jan. 26, 1954 Filed Nov. 26, 1946 Jan. 26, 1954 H. H. WHEELER v2,667,173

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Jan. 26, 1954 H, WHEELER v 2,667,173

CIGAR MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR HENRY H. WHEELER ATTORNEY I Jan. 26, 1954 V H. H. WHEELER 2,667,173

CIGAR MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1946 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 FIG. 01

(I II.

RY H. WHEELER ATTORNEY V This invention relates stantaneous stoppage.

UNITED-STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Henry H Wheeler,

Bellerose, Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application November 26, 1946, Serial No. 712,456

particularly to hydraulically operated cigar machines.

- One of the main objects of the invention is to simplify the construction of cigar machines and reduce their weight and cost. Since my machine has no heavy and expensive cams, there is a considerabl reductionin cost and weight. Other savings in weight and cost are obtained by elimination of shafts for supporting the cams,

- elimination of frames for supporting the cam shafts, elimination of .driving 1 connections.

gears, and elimination of Accordingly my machine may have a weight approximatelyone half the weightof prior cigar machines and its cost may be considerably less. 7

7 Due to the fact that the various units or my machine are supported upon a single table, and

are. rearranged torsave space, my machine occupies approximately five eighths of the floor spacerequired for a previous type of machine. a

, ,The'various units of my cigar machine, except the operating mechanisms of the .Wrapper applying mechanism and the controlmechanism for the cigar re-rolling mechanism, may be operated by separate fluid-operated devices controlled by fluid delivered under pressure from a source of fluid under pressure such as a hydraulic pump. Since the various units ,of the cigar machine are operated by separate fluid-operated devices,there is considerably less danger of injury of the attendant by moving parts. With separate fluid- ,o'perated devices for actuating the various units the forces imparted to the moving parts to operate the same are of such a controlled and limited magnitude that no injury to the attendant will result from manual obstruction thereof, except in the case of the crimper jaws.

With mechanically driven units, which are now used on cigarmachines, the moving. parts may injure the attendant if obstructed; because the [momentum of the entire machine must be overcome to stop any moving part which is obstructed. Although mechanism for stopping the entire 'machine has been heretofore providedftofprevent injury in the event any of its parts are,

manually obstructed, the momentum of the considerable weight of the moving parts of a mechanically driven cigar machine prevents in- To obtain the same degree of safety on. a mechanically driven cigar machine as on my machine a safety device would berequired for most units, which would be com plicated and expensive. e Another object is to provide a simplified mechanism forjforming cigar bunches from. bunch 1 15 Claims. 01.113141;

to cigar machines, more charges separated from a compacted tobacco column produced by assembling bunch length sections severed from the stream of filler tobacco advanced in the filler feed channel. To this end the bunch rolling apron may be raised to support he lower end of th column while a bunch charge is beingcut from the lower end of the column, and the apron is then lowered andthe bunch charge is rolled upon itself within a loop of the apron and rolled within a binder to form a cigar bunch. Heretofore it was necessary to move the bunch charge after separation from the column, on to the bunch rolling apron with the possibility of disturbing the tobacco in the bunch charge.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the operation of the mechanism for intermittently feeding the continuous layer or stream 'of filler tobacco into th column-forming means.

On prior cigar machines, when the continuous stream oftobacco was advanced in the filler feed channel-into the column-forming means for severance of bunch length sections from its leading end, detectable variations in the length of the severed sections resulted from variations in the mass or load of the filler tobacco in the filler I feed channel. Since the filler tobacco in the filler feed channel is laid therein manually by the attendant, there may be considerabl variation in the amount of the same. As a result; I believe the friction created against the side belts, which are backed up by rigid plates, by the portion of the'tobacco stream which is compacted by, the compactor will vary considerably. This causes more or less springing in the motivating members driving the belts and a variation in the charge or bunch length. In a cam operated machine it is not always possible to eliminate springing, as the cams are often some distance from the point where force is applied. In a hydraulic mechanism it is possible to obtain motion ,of .the belts without springing as the hydraulic motor can be so placed that nospring- .ing is possible.

more uniform length will be severed for assemcharges areseparated.

Thus bunch length sections of blage into a column from which the bunch In priormachines of the type wherein bunch I charges were separated from a vertical tobacco column formed by superimposing bunch length sections-the column was'compacted by a compactor engaging'the upper end of the'column bunch rolling table.

of bunch length sections of varying thickness, the spring urging the compactor against the column was compressed to a greater or lesser extent and the density of the tobacco column varied at least to some extent in acccordance with its height. Therefore cigar bunch charges varying somewhat in density were separated from the column and zthese variations .might :be great enough at times to affect the density of the cigars formed from the bunch charges. One object of the invention, therefore, is to avoid variations in the density of the compacted tobacco column from which the bunch charges are separated. For this purpose the member compacting the tobacco column is 'hydraulically operated by connecting it to the piston rod of a hydraulic cylinder. The hydrauliccylinder ais provided with instrumentalities for maintaining an unvaried fluid pressure on the piston-of the hydraulic cylinder to maintain the pressure applied to the tobacco column constantand. therepermit bunch charges of uniform density to be separated irom the tobacco column. Without such instrumentalities the pressure applied. to the tobacco column would vary in accordance with the resistance of the column :up :to a maximum pressure determined by the pressure of the fluid supplied to the hydraulic cylinder.

Still another object of :the invention isyto permit variation of the pressure appl d to the tobacco column for compaction thereof. The instrumentaiities referred to are manually ad-justable to regulate the pressure applied to the tobaccocolumn.

If desired, the cutter .for severin the bunch length sections may be. integral --with the :com- .pactor for the tobaccomcolumn. In this .case :the

instrumentalities. for regulating the pressure ;in

the hydraulic; cylinder maybe constructed to apply a greater pressure to the piston in itherhydraulic cylinder during the severance. gof the bunch length section :and then reduce the. pressure applied thereto during .the. compactioniof athe tobacco column.

A further object of the invention is 'to provide simplified mechanism for forming the loopinithe apron. The rider plate form apart of :this mechanism and serves the-dual purposeof :forming a loop in the apron and holding down the bunch charge while it is being spirally rolled upon itself as the loop is advanced along the As the loop is farther advanced along the bunchrolling table the rolled bunch charge is rolled within a binder previously positioned on the rolling apron to form a cigar bunch.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, like characters'ofreference indicate the same or like parts.

For conveniently locating the-different figures of thedrawings on th various sheetsreference may be had tothe following listingof the-figures of the drawings and the sheets whereon they appear:

Fig. l is a plan view of a hydraulic cigar machine exemplifying my invention and showing in their proper position relative to each other all main components or assemblies which are visible above the table of the cigar machine;

Figs. 1A and 1B are sectional and end elevation views, respectively, of the safety device through which the wrapper-applying device is driven from the motor driving the hydraulic Fig. 2 is a perspective plan view of all those components or assemblies which might be seen below the table if said table were transparent. "'lihisiview is given "mainly to illustrate the main hydraulic circuitand shows the suction line as "well;

Fig.3 is -.a planview of the master valve housing taken in a slightly inclined position thereof and showing its general external appearance with certain portions of housing cut away to expose :certain valves, ithe cam shaft, and one of the cams'controlling the valves Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the mastervalve housing with certai-n-portions-of the housing cut away in order to expose certain valves and the :cam operating the same;

Fig. :5 is a sectional view of one-of the valves taken 0n'the line-5-5 of Fig.4;

Fig. '6 is a sectional view of the master-valve housing on linen-6 of-Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a perspective 'viewof the filler feed showing a portion of the bunch rolling table-and the hydraulic circuits -'-for same, certain-portions thereof being broken away;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the bunch rolling table showing the hydrauliccircuitsfor operating the variou parts thereof, certain portions thereof being broken away;

Figs. 8A and 8B are sectionalviews ofthehydraulic motor operating the bunch rolling apron and showing the motor in two difierent-positions;

Figs. 8C-8G, inclusive, are detail :side elevations of the rider plate showing-it in various po- 'sitions wherein it forms the loop in the bunch rolling apron-and serves to hold down the bunch charge while it is being relied upon itself;

'Fig. 8.1-! is a detail view showing the arrangement of the diametral ports of th rotor of the motor operating the bunch rolling apron;

e .9 is a longitu inal. seo ionalqview onan enlarged scale of the hydraulic-cylinder for operating the bunch length cutter. This view illu tratestthe mechanismicr maintaininga constant pressure on the piston of. the hydraulic. cylinder;

"Fig. '10 isa sectional sideelevation showing the flow control valve regulating theload on the rolling pin of the bunch rollingmachine.

The hydraulic cigarmachine selected .toillustrate the invention includes the iollowingcom- 'ponents whichcorrespond to similar units of prior mechanicall driven ciganmachines. .Thcseilnits .or assemblies are visible above th sllph lttlng table]; of my machineand are all hydraulically operated properly timed relationship. withthe exception of the, wrapper applying mechanism.

Thefiller feedF .(Figs. 1 and .7.) whichmay be considered as the first hydraulically operated unit, .is provided. with a cross feed including two vertical.intermittently travelin belts -99 and one intermittently traveling horizontal belt Nil. The upper run of the horizontal belt and the inner runs of the-vertical:belts'form a filler feed channel in which filler tobacco is .manually'laid to form alayer of tobacco whic'n is 'advancediinto a "measuring chamber or :magazine where bunch lengthsections are cut 7 of the tobacco layer. The severed bunchlengths are superimposed in the measuring chamber to form a column which is compacted to a predetermined density, and bunch charges are separated from the compacted-column and transferred to a bunch rolling table T (Fig. "1), upon which the bunch charge is rolled or wrappedwithin a binder to'form a cigar bunch. The filler feed F and bunch rolling table T will be described in detail following the general description of the cigar machine. I

Also shown in Fig. '1 is an intermittently rotating die turret B,- bunch transfer K, paster U, "crimper C, bunch transfer 0, wrapper'paster V,

wrapper applying device D and rerolling mechanism R.-

Rolling table T is provided with a rolling apron and a sliding carriage on which is pivoted a device'P'for operating the-rider plate (Fig. 1). At theproper time'the bunch charge delivered from the filler feed F is rolled upon itself within a loop formed in the apron by the rider plate'and then rolled within the binder to form a cigar 'bunch, the paste applied by'the binder paster U assisting in holding the binder on the bunch. a All these units are located above the table L (Fig. 1). Certain mechanisms, such as the drive,

the master valve and'the piping are located under table L, but these require little space and are so "arranged that thereis plenty of room for cleaning of the fl'oor and maintenance of the machine.

Drive The drive for my machine (Figs. 1, 1A, 1B, 2, and 3) is provided with an electric motor I carrying a pulley 2 on its shaft. A belt .Sis driven from pulley 2 and drives a pulley A (Figs. 1A and 1B) whichis looselymounted on'a' sleeve, 2! keyed on the shaft. 22 of a pump 5. The sleeve 2| has a flange 23 against which is seated a ring 24 formed of suitable friction material and interposed betweenthe pulley 4 and flange 23. A clutch pulley 5 is threaded on the sleeve 2| and held in driving engagement with pulley 4 by a torsion spring 20a. One end of torsion spring 20a is anchored in a lock nut 25 threaded on" sleeve 2!, and the other endof spring 25a is anchored in pulley 5. Thus the pulley 4 will be pressed against the friction material 24 to drive shaft 22 and operate pump 6, and pulley 5 will be driven. A belt I on pulley 5 drives pulley 8 on reduction drive shaft 9. The shaft 9 drives reduction gearing of the well known planetary type enclosed in housing It.

There is provideda brake 20 (Figs. 1A, 1B and 2) having a handle 26 fastened on a shaft 21 suitably supported from tableL. 'On'shaft 2'! is secured a brake piece 28 to which is pi ctally screwed into engagement with pulley 5 and the operation of the machine will be resumed.

-Master valves The hydraulic pump 6, which may be a vane type pump of conventional construction, is supthese valves and 6 plied with oil by pipe 55 from an oil'r'eservoir58 (Fig. 2)wherein it is filtered by filter 56a. The

' oil'is' delivered from pump 6 under pressure through a-pipe 5! to a cored out chamber 58 in the master valve housing H (Figs- 3-6). This cored out chamber runs the entire length of the reservoir or sump 56. Each of the valves -3l-5 4 inclusive is provided with a stationary sleeve 90 secured in housing H. In sleeves 90 are slidably mounted spool-shaped members 8?. Members 81 are provided on their central and end portions with heads which have a diameter greaterthan the rest of member 81, as is shown in the case of valve 54 in'Fig. 5. Each valvesleeve 90 has five pairs of opposed slots which are sospa'ced that three pairs of slots, which communicate with the passages 58, 59 and B5, are normally closed by the heads on valve spool 81. The lower ends of valve spools 8'! are-tapered and rest on cam levers 3IL-54L inclusive, which carry cam rollers 3lR-54R inclusive, which engage cams SIC-54C inclusive, secured 'on cam shaft H. The cam levers BIL-54L inclusive, are mounted on a shaft 9| supported inthe master valve housing H, and springs 92 seated in sockets in the upper ends of valve spools 81 and engaging plugs 93 threaded into. the master valve housing, keep the cam her 59 or 85.

rollers of these levers in engagement with cams 3| C-54C inclusive.

It will be apparent that ifthe valve spools 81 are slightly raised or lowered that oil will flow under pressure from chamber 58 through the central pair of slots in sleeve 90, which are normally closed by the central head of the valve spools 8l', and then through either the uppermost or lowermost pair of slots in sleeve 90, which are normally closed by the upper or lower head of 5130015 8'1, into either the chamber 59 or chamber 85. Thus the oil flowing from chamber 58 through the slots in sleeve opened by the central head'will also be delivered through either "pair of slots in sleeve 90 intermediate the central and the outermost slots into ports formed in the sides of the main valve housingH and communicating with the intermediate slots in sleeve 90. These ports are connected by pipes as for example 54a and 54b to a hydraulicmotor or cylinder, as will be hereinafter described, so that the oil will'flow through one pipe into the motor or cylinder and be returned by'another pipe to either the cham- There are twenty-eight pairs of pipes connected to the ports in the sides of the master valve housing H. A pair of pipes leads from each pair of these ports to each of the respective hydraulic motors or cylinders which operate various mechanisms, with the exception of valves 5| 52, 53 and 54. These four valves have two pairs :of pipes for each valve to supply oil to the two die turrets whichare simultaneously indexed by degree steps, the suction head lifter of each turret, the suction control for each turret, and the roller cutters of each turret.

Archer valve 98 of conventional. construction (Fig. 6) allows oil to'escape from pressure'cham- :ber .58 .intoethezexhaustphamber- 05 when 1111162 iipressure in ;chamber 1-58 becomes excessive and thereby :maintains the oil pressure in chamber 58 below=a predetermined maximum. The portions of the ohambers 59 and fiiadjacent-pipesfi :communicate with each other,- as shown in Fig. 6, to provide a common outlet into pipe {86.

Reduction gearing-(Figs. 4-and 5) including a ring gear 94 secured to cam 506, ,a pinion -95 vkeyed ,on .cam ashaft I1, and an intermediate gear 96;mounted on a stubshaft-fi] supported in'hous- ,ing H, is provided for :driving thecam 1540 at one-half the speed of shaft IT. The other cams .3I;C.- :53:C inclusive, :are secured to shaft 11 and are revolved at the samexspeedasshaft I'I.

Cross feed, column forming, and charge measuring and severing to form :a continuous layer of tobacco. Each of the belts 99 is trained about a drivi g pulleyand an idler pulley, and both driving pulleys are driven from shaft through two pairs of bevel .gears, one pair of bevel gears being shownvin Fig. 7. One of thesebevel gears is secured on shaft I-0I and meshes with and drives a bevel ;-gear on an uprightgshaft-carrying one of the driving pulleys. The other pairof bevelgears (not shown) -;a1so consist s of ;a'bevel-gear on shaft IBI drivinga bevel gear on an upright-shaft carrying thepulley driving thegotherbelt 99. A drum secured onpsha'ft l0! and shoWn'inFig. 7ldrives the'belt :l90gwhichrisloopedover a seriesof idler pulleys .to provide ;a horizontal run extending along the lower edges of beltsa99. .Since the construction of the filler :feed channel :and the arrangement v,of the :bevel .gears -:for driving ithe pulleys of belts ;.99,-is;conventionaland. shown in 'rny Patent No. 2,311,011, further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Attached to the :outerendofshaft sI0| is a drum I 0.2 having ,a-cconcentric internal bore. A four-toothed ratchet 1.03 :loosely mounted on shafttlfl! ytand-providedwith rollers I04 mounted in recesses of theratchet to engagedrum I02, :andav gear, I05;attached :to'the hub ofratchet 103, form a: rollenclutchiof. conventional: construction. Meshin with and driving .gear lillli'is a rack I 06 cutpin the end of :aipistonirod I01 protruding from .the hydraulic -:motor 1.08. The post 105a extending upwardly::from;-rack I05-engages one side of aflange on;a;sle.eve I09 slidablymounted on ,a valve rod ;I-I 0 which alsoprotrudesfrom'mo tor I08. Inside rzsleeve I09 is-provided a spring 416 attached atone :end'zto valve rod H0 and attached at 'its'pther end to a bar II2 which is fastened to sleeve I09. When nuts IiI2a threaded on bar I I-2 :are engaged Joy post 100a during the outward movement of rack I06, the spring IIB-will be stretched in a manner here- 'inafter described. Bar H2 is slidably mounted inthe frame of the machine.

In the protruding portion ofvalve rod I I0 are two annular grooves properly spaced to be engaged by -rocker arm I I3 at the endof each stroke of the valve rod H0. The arm H3 is maintained in engagement with eitherofgsaid, annular grooves by a tension spring I, [3a and disengaged therefrom, byrapin .I, Itonan armilfi attached-to and moving with cutter J33. on vertical reciprocating block I32 in :a manner \which will the ;presently described. 1

In the operation of :my cross feed, ;pin I14 comes down and.s.trike s rockerarm II3,-di sengaging same from the left hand-groove the protruding portion of valve rod H0. Then-spring :I I6 forcesgthe valverod -I-I0 inwardly'to displace the valve spool portion I I 9a thereof sufficiently to open port I I'Ia leading :from a chamber @I I I communicating with pipe 3Ib to the left :hand

sideiof piston H8. Rod 0 remains-in this position waiting for master valve 3|, whichis/con- At the proper time master valve 3| opens-allowing oilunderpressure to -pass through pipe 3Ib into-the cored out chamber .I I1 in-motor I08-and thence past valve .spool portion 1 I9a of rod 140 and through to the left handside ofpiston -,I I8. The piston I I8 is thus displaced tothe right. and

the oil on the-right :side of the piston passes out of the cylinder and into the right hand port II-Ib.

The spool valve portion II9b of valve rod.l l0 is in a predetermined position shown ins-Fig.7: at this time to permit the oil flowing into. the=right hand port H117 to flow into a-drilled passage ,I08a

formed in motor 108 and communicating with pipe 31a and then'back'tomaster valve 3|.

When piston II8 has.-moved far enoughrtoithe right for post a :to strike :nuts :I I2a threaded on rod H2, rod H2 is moved to the right sufficiently to stretch springl I6. Thus sleeve I09 is displaced to the right until the flange on this sleeve strikes a corner I20 formed on rocker arm 'I I3 and raises arm "H3 to disengage it from the right hand annular groove in rod H 0. The spring H9 which is now under tension, pulls valve'rod IIO to the right, therebyreversing the =oil flow from the left side of the piston M8 to the right side of the same while arm I I3 engages theileft hand annular groove in rod I I0. The oil now flows from chamber I I! through port! I'Ib into the cylinder. This causes piston I I8 to travel to the left, and as post 1060. strikes the'fiange on sleeve I09, it compresses-spring I I6 so that it will be ready for the next cycle. The oil nowdisplaced by piston H8 flows through port I IIa into the passage I08a to be returned to valve 3|, the valve spool portion I Isa'being in position'to permit the oil toflow'from port II'Ia to port I08a.

As rack I06 moves to the right with piston rod I01, gear I05 is rotated-to turnratchet I03 and cause rollers I04 to drive drum I02 on shaft IOI. Shaft IN is thus driven in the proper-direction to advance cross feed belts 99 and I00 to the right. The'rack I00 when moving to the left, turns gear I05 and ratchet I03 in the opposite direction; but-rollers I04 do not-drive drum I 02 and there is no motion of same. "Since there'will fore variations in the amount of-the filler-tobacco manually laid in the filler feedchannel would produce variations in'the amount of friction be tween belts 99 and said plates along the portion of the filler stream',whichJiscompactedJoy. mechanism hereinafter described. Therefore variations in the friction of belts 99 against said plates vertical column of tobaccowhich is compacted to a predetermined density prior to separation of bunch charges from the lower end of the column. When magazine I2I has received a sufficient number of bunch length sections, pin II4 on arm II5 of block I32, which is controlled iii by mechanism hereinafter described, fails to 7 go down for enough to release bar H3, and the feeding of thelayer of tobacco by belts 99 and I00 stops until the level of tobacco in the magazine has been reduced. It will be seen from:the above description that when nuts II2a are adjusted along bar II2 the length of the bunch length sections can be increased or diminished to suit the required cigar length, since the extent of the forward travel of the belts 99 and I00 is controlled by the position of nuts II2a.

Continuing with the descriptionof the filler feed shown in Fig, 7, the layer of filler tobacco is advanced by the belt I00 into the upper portion of a measuring chamber or magazine I2I having side walls extending along the lateral edges of the belt I00 and across the rolling apron 226 hereinafter described. The leading end of the tobacco layer is fed between the side walls" of magazine I2I and on to fingers I22. These fingers and the charge-cutting knife I23, which forms the bottom of magazine I2 I, are attached to a slide I24 guided by a frame I24a attached to the table L. Slidel24 is connected to a piston rod I projecting from cylinder I26. Master valve 31 opens to allow oil under pressure to flow through pipe 31a into cylinder I26 and displace piston I25 and slide I24 outwardly. Thus fingers I 22 will be retracted and knife I23 will be pulled out from under the tobacco column which isformed in magazine I2I 'in a manner hereinafter described and supported on knife I23. Moreover, when slide I24 is moved outwardly, the leading end of the tobacco layer advanced on to the fingers I22 by belt I00 will be deposited on top of the vertical column of tobacco in magazine I 2| while the tobacco column is supported on the bunch rolling apron 226 after withdrawal of knife I23. Apron 226 is supported by a platform which will be described later.

The cam 310 operating valve 3'! is so timed that after the leading end of the tobacco layer has been fed on to fingers I22, the valve 31 is lowered to place the pressure chamber 58 in communication through the uppermost pair of slots in sleeve 90 and the adjoining pair of intermediate slots in said sleeve with the upper port in the side of V tending into the bore in which the spool valve the main valve housing, which is connected to the pipe 31a, to cause slide I24 to move outwardly. The oil so displaced by piston I25 will be returned by pipe 311) to chamber 59 through valve 31.

The charge-cutting knife I23 is guided by rails (not shown) extendingunderneath the knife along the longitudinal edges thereof. These rails are attached to the lower edges of swinging members I28 pivotedon brackets supported by' frame I24a and lugs I2Ia-on the side walls of the magazine I2I. Members I29 are provided. with upwardly extending lugs which are pivotally connected-tea toggle I29 which is connected to a piston rod I30 protruding from cylinder I3I.

Pistonrod I30 is connected to a pistonl30'a I in the cylinder 13L The flow of oil under pressure from chamber 58 of the main valve housing to pipe 34a, which communicates with the lower end of cylinder I3I, is controlled by master valve 34 to lift the piston I30a and swing the members- I28 outwardly when the knife I23 is withdrawn. The oil displaced in the cylinder I3I by the upward movement of piston I30a is returned through pipe 34b to the valve 34 which is then imposition to permit the oil to flow into exhaust chamber 59.

On a block I32, which slides vertically between the side walls of the magazine I2l, is formed a into which the fingers I22 project when they are I moved inwardly and is attached to a piston rod I34 projecting from cylinder block I 35. Cutter I33 coacts with a lower corrugated cutter or ledger plate I36, which has indentations fitting the configuration of cutter I33, to sever a bunch length from the leading end of the tobacco layer ad'-' vanced by belts 99 and I00 on to fingers I22 after the latter are withdrawn. In this manner the severed bunch lengths will be superimposed to form a vertical tobacco column in magazine I2l. The cutter I36 is supported by extensions of the side walls of magazine I2I, which extend along the delivery end of belt I00, in a position to support the tobacco stream as it is advanced thereover on to fingers I22.

A spool valve I31 (Figs. '7 and 9) is slidably mounted in a'bore of the cylinder block I35 which is connected by three ports I42a, I42b and I420 to the bore in which piston MI is mounted. Valve I3! is normally maintained in a predetermined position to open port M200 and close port I42b by a spring I38 engaging an adjusting screw I39 threaded into the topof severance of the bunch length section would crumble the tobacco inmagazine I2I if applied thereto. .For this purpose the fluid supplied through pipe 32a after valve 32 is opened at the proper time by its cam 320 is delivered under pressure into a port in the cylinder head I35 I31 is located and flows through the port I42a into the space above piston I4I to apply sufficient pressure to knife I33 to sever the bunch length section. The pressure applied to the piston I4I will be determined by the resistance of the tobacco being cut. The-pressure applied to piston I4I will correspond to the resistance of the'tobacco 'during the cutting of the bunch length up to a predetermined maximum corresponding to the pressure at which oil is de livered from pump 6. The fluid displaced by piston I4'I flows out through'port I420 into pipe 11 32b and is returned through valve 32 to the reservoir 56.

The severance of the bunch length section; is completed when the piston I II reaches port i421), so that when the piston is below this port the pressure of the fluid passing through port I42? and seeping under the portion of valve I3'I seated against a bushing I43 will lift the valve I3'i, to partially close the port communicating with pipe 32a, as shown in Fig. 9. Thereforethe pressure applied to head I32 while it is compressing the tobacco column in magazine I2I will be reduced sufficiently to avoid disintegration of the same. This pressure will remain unvaried during the compression of the tobacco column andhead I32 will continue descending until the column is compasted to a predetermined density. Therefore bunch charges of uniform density will be separated from the lower end of the column by knife I23, and the cigars formed therefromwill be of uniformsize.

Since the pressure of, spring I38 determines the pressure which must be applied to valve I377 to lift the same into position to partially close the port communicating with pipe 32a, it will be seen that by adjusting nut I38 to regulate the tension of spring I38 the pressureapplied to piston I ll during the compression of the tobacco column may be regulated. Thus the desired unvaried; pressure may be applied to head I32 andthe column will becompacted to the desired density. When valve 321s reversedto permit fiuid to flow through port- I iic andlift the piston I II, fluid under pressure will also flow through perforations in the lower end of bushing I43 into the interior thereofand upwardly through an axial port IEla (Fig. 9) in valve it! into the space above the upper end of valve I37 and displace the latter downwardly into engagement with bushing I43. Thus the port leading from the bore in whichvalve l3l'ismounted to; pipe 3211, will be fully opened and thefluid displaced by the upward movement of piston I li will flow through port I l2a past valve I31 into pipe-32a to be returned to sump Operating to compress the layer of tobacco in the, fillerfeed channel at the same time that the block I32 is moved downwardly tocompress the tobacco column. is a pressure plate I44 having a plate Idea hinged thereon and operated by-an arm I45 pivotally connected to one; end of-ahead I46. On the opposite end of thishead- IE6 is slidably mounted a pin Ml attachedto plate I44. A compression spring I48 is interposed between head I46 and plate IM. Head M3 is connected to a piston I lQ by pistonrod l leaprotruding from a cylinder I55 which is connected to pipes 32c and 32b and controlled by the valve 32. Therefore, when valve 32 is operated by its cam 320 to force piston I4I- down in cylinder head I35, fluid will be supplied simultaneously to cylinder 'I5il through-pipe 32a to displace piston Hi9 downwardly. Therefore head Hi will operate the compressor foot I44 to compress the underlying. portion of the layer of tobacco in the filler feed channel and-its BX-r tension l l Ia will be swung down to press. the tobacco into the. filler feed channel.

Fingers I22 enter the slots I32a in head I32: in positions above the upper end ;of the tobacco column after the head I32 has compressed the tobacco column. To move the slide I2 3. inwardly for this purpose the. valve 3I1is operated by its cam to cut off the. supply of fluid .to pipe 31a and deliver it to. the. other side of piston I25;

through pipe 31b whereby-the slide. I24 will be; moveddnwardly. Inward. movement ofv slide; I214 willalso cause the knife I23ltoseparate abunch; charge fromthe lower end, of the tobacco col.-

umnand willbefurther describeddn connection. with the-bunchrollingtable. lhe tobaccolcolgumn will be held down by the fingers, I22.whi1e.: the block I32 is raised and the next tobacco layer is fed on to.fingers I22..

When the valve ,321 is, displaced .by. the,cam32c,

to cut oif theflowof fluid into pipe132a. and; permit it :to flowinto pipe 32b.-the piston I41 in; cylinder head I35'willbe displaced upwardlyvto. raisethe block I32 and cutter." I33. Piston. I49;

r in cylinder I50 will simultaneously be. raisedzto.

lift the compressor foot. I44: and its extension. M ld, to permit. the tobaccolayer tobe fed onto the fingers. I22.

The knife I23;is.formed fromaathin sheet;.ofr suitable metaland has a V shapedindentation. (not shown) on its forwardend on whichthe. cutting edge is. formed. With this shape'of cut.- ting edge there. is. less. interference with the. movement .ofthe knife through the tobacco .c.ol;-. umn during the. cutting of. the bunch charge... Moreover. I. believe thatthe arrangement: Ofl the knife to separate the. bunchcharge lengthwise thereof from the. tobacco column willresultiin less displacement of. the tobacco in the. column,v because. a smaller width of the knife'engagesxthea column, than. in the. case; of." a knife moving through the column. transversely the bunch length. It will be observedthat the tips of the fingers J22 extend sufficiently. into .the indentationsof the ledgerplate. I35 to hold down the fishv tails formed by severance-10f,the'bunchlength. sections. Thus the layerofiiller tobacco..0n belt-z Hill may be fed onto the. fingers I22 without; interference by. upwardly projecting fishtails in. the column. In aprior construction wherein. the knife was moved;transverselyof'the bunch. length to separate the bunchcharge, the fingers were movedwiththe knife. intoupositions over lying the top. of. thecolumnanddidi not hold down the fishtails adjacentthe ledger plate.

The-swinging membersI28 guide the cutting. edge-of knife. I23.-1into .a 1 slot provided below the: ledger plate -I 36to admitthe. same. When members I23 are swungapartanytobacco accumulatiing thereon will, fall off:. Thus-tobaccoucan-l. not accumulate on these members v1 in: suflicient. c|1i21antity to interfere with the operation ofkn-ife Bunch rollingtable The bunch rollingtablelFig. 89, includes a'bed: 20I secured-to. table L and provided with'a .cover plate 263 to form .asuction chamber- 202; Plate. 203 has longitudinal grooves; in which: perforations are located. Fastenedgto-eitherside of .bed: 20! aretwo. stationary racks 20.4-and 205a. Mesh: ing with these two racks. are; two pinionsl20B; and 201; pivotedon the ends; of ayoke 208 which. is fastened to a piston rod 299aoperated,by'agpisr tcn 249 a cylinder. 2.68; hereinafter describedr. Above pinion-s 2B6 and-201 are two. racks2 I 0 and 1 2I I which are slidably mounted, onibed .20I and. secured to the lower ends of a U-shaped bracket M2; on a shaft 2 I3.supported;by lugs of bracket 2I2 a pair of links 2I4.and:2|5:.are fastened on: the portions of'sh'aft 2I33projectingfrom thelugs of: bracket 2I2 (Figs. 8- and -86). A bunch rolling: pin or roller=2l6-is mountedron a shaft 2I6a which: is supported-in the-free-- ends ofzlinks2I4 and 2I5. ArmsZII and 2I8-'arethe rider plate 2!9.

have attached thereto a rider plate 2!9.j

A pair of suction chambers 22!. communicate:

with the suction chamber 202 only one suctionchamber being shown in Fig. 8). Each suction chamber 22! is connected. bya pipe. 220 '(Fig. 2) through: pipe429 to a source of suction (not shown). Two tubes 222 .(only-one tube 222beingshown' in Fig. .8) are slidably mounted in suction chambers 22!, and have holes 223 in the portions thereof extendingv within the suction chambers 22! whereby suction will be maintained continuously in tubes 222. Mounted on the upper ends of tubes 222 is a hollow platform 225 having a flat top with a considerable num-- ber of drilled holes 255atherein to cause suctional adhesion of the overlying portion of the rolling apron 226 to the top of platform 225. Attached to the lower ends of tubes 222. is a cross bar 22'! which is connected-at its central portion to a piston rod228 to raise platform 225 into the position shown in Fig. SC to support the lower endof the tobacco column inmagazine I2! after the knife I23 is withdrawn from underneath said tobacco column. An adjusting nut 23!! threaded on theupper end of rod 228 permits adjustment of the position of platform 225.

One end of the bunch rolling apron 226 is clamped against one end of bed 20! by bar 229.and its other endis secured to a take-up roller .230. Apron 226 extends acrossthe top of cover plate 203 and platform 225, and passes between the rolling pin 2!6 and the inner end of The apron take-up roller 230 is adjustably attached to the shaft of a rotor 234 of a rotary hydraulic motor 23!, the shaft protruding from the housing of this motor and roller 23!! being between plugs 233 and 236 will thus be forced I through the diametral port.239a into the space 1 suitably secured on the protruding portion of said I shaft. This motor has a concentric'bore in its housingwith two semi-circular grooves at the top and bottom of the bore. Plugs 232 and 233 are then set. in these grooves and have faces which engage the rotor 234, these faces being concentric to a running fit with rotor 234. Plugs 235 and 236 are set into the rotor 234 in diametrically opposite positions and are turned and ground to provide faces concentric to a running fit with the bore of the housing of motor 23!. In an opening formed in the portion of the housing of motor 23! below the rotor 234 is a bore 240a having a slide valve 243, backed up by a light spring 24! normally maintaining valve 240 in a position shown in Fig. 813, to permit oil to flow through port 231 and past valve 240 into port 238. Ports 23'! and-238 are formed in the housing of motor 23!, and port 23'! is connected by a pipe 33a to the master valve33. When cam 33c opens valve 33 oil will flow under pressurethrough port 23! and past valve 240 into a port 238 and against the plug 236. The oil will also flow through the diametral port 239a shown in Figs. 8A and 8H extending through the rotor 234 and plugs 236 and 235 and communicating with the space 234a from the plug 2327to the plug 235 between the rotor 234 and its: housing. Thus the oil will also flow through port 239a against plug232. The rotor will thus be turned in a counter-clockwise direction to re- 234d m plu o P ?,5.P? Wn..-the ho se ing andthe rotor willbe displaced by :plug235 through ports 239 and 244- into the pipe 33b to. be returned through valve 33 to reservoir 56.1

The oil ahead of the plug 236inthe space 234a from plug'232 to plug 236 between the rotor and its housing will be forced throughlthe other diametral port 2392), which extends through the rotor and plugs 235 and236 and is shown in Figs. 8B and 8H, and willflow through port 239 and past valve. 240 into port 244 to be returned through pipe 33b to .valve 33.

A'duct. 242 formed in valve 240 extends from the port 23! to the right hand end of the valve, sothat oilwill flow through duct 242 and seep between the right end ofvalve 243 and the motor housing until it builds up suflicient pressure to overcome the resistance of spring 24!. The valve 240 will thenbe moved to the left to the position shown in Fig. 8A and will close port 23! be seen that the torque counterclockwise cannot exceed that furnished by the spring 24! so that the rolling apron will not be hereinafter. described, the rotor 234 will be turned in a clockwise direction. Oil in the space 2341) 234a between plugs 235 and 232."

As can be readily seen from the above descrip-' tion, a reversal of oil flow created by cam 33c displacing the master valve 33-to permitoilto flow from valve 33 into pipe 33b will cause the oil to flow into port 244 and displace valve 240 to the right. and oil will flow therethrough against plug .235 and through portv 2391) into the space 234a and turn the rotor of motor 23! clockwise to create slack in apron 226. It may be noted that the oil in the spaces 234a, 234b, 2340 and 234d serves to hydraulically balance the rotor 234 and thereby avoid the disadvantages of an unbalanced thrust against the bearings of the rotor.

In the operation'cf my machine, oil under pressure from master valve 36 enters the lower A end of a cylinder 243 (Fig. 8') through pipe 36b.

thereby raising a piston (not shown) in cylinder 243 and lifting piston rod 228 with bar 221,

tubes 222 and platform 225 to the position shown in-Fig. 8C. The portion of apron 226 overlying platform 225 is thereby lifted sufiiciently to support the tobacco column in magazine !2! when the knife I23 (Fig. 7) is withdrawn from the bottom of the column. The oil flow is then reversed by master valve 36, causing oil to flow into the top of cylinder 243 through pipe 36a; and the portion of apron 226 supported on platform 225 is lowered with the tobacco column supported thereon after severance of a bunch charge from the bottom of the column by the knife I23 (Fig.7). Y

At the same time, oil from master valve 44 enters the top of cylinder 244 through pipe 440 causing a piston (not shown) in the cylinder to move'the piston rod 244a connected to a bar 244b downwardly. Roller'2lla, which is mounted on arm 2!'!, engages with a transverse slot' inthe upper end of bar 2441) (Fig. 8) whereby both links 2!4 and 2!5 will be pulled down when piston rod 244a is displaced downwardly as indicated by the arrows on link 2! 4 and bar 244D in Fig. 80. Links 2!4 and 2!5, as previously mentioned, are pivoted on the portions of shaft to shut off the flow of oil to the motor. It.can

When the platform 225 is raised tothe position shown in Fig. in a manner which will be The port 239 will thus be opened' 2 l 35 protmdingi front bracket .2 12: and carry: the; shaft: 2 liBai on which: the; two? arms 2:11: and: 2181 attached to:- rider plate 2.1.9, as well as rolling: pin: 216'; are. mounted". The slot in bar 24% is wide enough-to allow roller 21111 to swing: over the top of shaft 21516111 while: the: endof sai'dzshaft. projecting.fromtlink 2 ifiis also theslot. Whenbar'2flb. moves down: the top? of the-slot:- engages. roller ZZtTa attachedItd'armi.21?! which was pre viously'; described asfb'eing. mounted on. shaft. 2 Ilia: pivoted in link 214 which in turn is pivoted-on shaft-. 213- The shaft 2|:6a will thereforebe moved downwardly in an arc concentric with shaft2l-3z Roller 245- attached to arm 218 :being guided by a canr track in the: stationary" camplate246; causes roller "2H m to pass cverr'the top 'ofshaft''lfia due'to the are described by'shaft 216m (see arrow on link M in 80); On the; upward stroke ofi bar 2MB indicated by therarrrow thereon in Fig. 8D the bottoin' of the slet engages shaft Zita: This upward movement: causes roller (which is new at the bottom" of the cam 2469 to beiiorcedttothe right carry-- ing the rider plate 2H: attached to arm 2!! to: the position shown-- in- Fig. 8D andthen to' the positionshown: in Fig. 83. Therefore; the inner. end of rider plate 219-- will form a loop inv the rolling apron 22'6 in front of-platform' 225; While rider'plate Z ['9 is formingthe loop in the apron',. theapron is paid out from" roller 23!! by the operation of motor 231', as. previously described, toprovide sufficient slack for the formation of the loop; This :motion,. together with that of the cam ro1ler2'45 supported from bracket 21:8

and moving in the track of? the stationary cami 1 plate 246; causes? brackets 25!? and 213 to turn onl shaft: 216a until? rider'- plate 21 9 rests on top of the severed: bunch charge which is'lowercdi on apron 225- when the platform 225" descends as indicatedby the arrow on tube 222 in: Fig. 86..

The bunchcharge is: now ready to be rolled into: the. binder B that has beendeposited on the: perforated; portion or; apron- 22'6- providecl' with holes 2261: overlyingcover plate 2'53: as will be more fully described later; The binder so de-= posited: will be suctionally retained. thereon by the suction maintained in' chamber 252.

Gill from master valve 35, through. pipe 3561; enters'valv'e block 2 1? (to be-moreiully'described later)? and then passes outv through pipe 350 at the top of block 2H into a cylinder 248. (Fig; 8'), thereby forcing piston 245i to the right with: it's piston-rod 2439 Piston rod 2-fi9displ'aces the: U" shaped bracket 2% to the rightandicause gears 206. and 2-9! tobe'turned'clockwise by. racksZM 205 and to displace racks 21E!- and Z H to=ther right; Thus the'rolling" pin 21% and: rider plateassemblywhich is designated by the: reference character -P-' and mounted on bracket 212 as previously' described, will move to the: right with racks 2 I10 and 2H.

During the forward movement of bracket M2 the bunch charge will be coiled upon itself" with-* in the loop of the apron while the rider plat-e: 2:19 holds down the portion of the charge in front of the rolling pin 2 l6; During the rollingv of the bunch chargeupon itself the roller 2&5 will be guided in the lower horizontal section of the-track in cam plate 246. The rider plate will: thereby be maintained in a horizontal position until: it

reaches the upwardly extending section: oflthetrack in cama plate 2 25 shown in Fig. 8E andis ihenvswung upwardly'to the position: shown in Fig.- while roller MS -passes through this upwardly extending section of the track in new i is constant.

plate-2W6 Upon leaving theupper and: of thisn section of track 246 ro1ler 2 tfi enters arecess 6a,. in: the upper horizontal section of track 2 46 and engages a: spring pressedi finger 21Gb: As the roller 2 55 ridesover member 24151) during-wits con' tinned; forward movement, plate 2:119 is swung" rearwardly to: a. horizontal position. Plate: 24:9 remains in the rearwardly extending horizontaii position shown in dotted: lines; in Riga 86 duringthe continued: forward. movement of the: rolling; pin? 211;: while thec'oiled bunch: chargefis rolled within/the binder. previously laid on apron 225: to form: a cigar.- bunch. The: cigar bunch so formed is deposited into fingers: 250 and? 25%; which: will. be hereinafter described}. when slack is removedfrom the apron by motor 23313.

The reversal of oilrflow by mas-tort valve 35, through pipe 35d1ito=the right side of cylinder 248 tlienlrct'urns; the rider plate and rolling pin: to the'leftin position'for. the nexttcycle. During-- the-return movement offth'erollin'g pinthe roller; 245 willare-engage the finger 24% and be guided into and along. the upper horizontal: portion of track 246 untiltheroller 211a enters the transverse groove of bar 2445b.

Valve block? is azfiow control valve, whereas the rate. of flow on? all other units: is: predeter fmined by the: sizes of. the orifices: through which the'fiuid' flows, as the load on .sai'di other: units The load on rolling. 2 h: varies if 'thermaohineis run withoutifilier in the-ma:- chine and. alsoif different sizes of'cigar'b'unches are made. It is; therefore, necessary toahave': a power demand control to apply a minimumxforce:

. to the bunch rolling pin; when there is no cigar bunch on the rolling apron and to'vary; the? force applied in accordance-with difierent sizes "of cigar bunches. For this purposevalveblockf 211. may have the following; construction:

Referring to'Figs; 8 and: 1:0;When master valve: 35 is opened oil' flows in from pipe 35ifi through a port 2-51 intoran annular groove 253iz iormed' in a sleeve: 253;v which isslidabl'y mounted; in a bore: provided in block: 2, through drilled holes 2532; and past. the conical portion of a valve plunger 2-52, whichuiss'lidabl'y mounted'iin sleeve 253 and held: open slightly by stop 25-4: The oil thusenters. the interior of sleeve 25% and: flows outthrough slots- (not shown) inthe outer: end: of sleeve 253, into port 255. formed in' block 241 and thence through pipe- 350 intothe cylinder 248 where it builds up sufficientpres'sure to move' piston 24!]; This pressure-reacts" back asr-far; as valve plunger 25% and urgesit against the 'resistance of a-reacta-nce spring 25.5- looated within plunger 256' and seated against-ada'usting screw" 25L Thus. valve plunger 7,-5.2 opens moreor less in accordance. with the different pressures: re-- quired to displace piston 2% due to variations in the load onthe rollingpin, and the oil will: flow witlr more or. lessresistance into cylinder 248 as determined by the load on piston 249i. Adjusting screw 2-51 is provided for the purpose of adjusting the required speed of piston 2'49 and is sealed against leakage by' nut 258. At" this'tim'e" the inner-"endof the sleeve 253 engages the inner. face of nut 2 53;v and" the oil displaced from cylinder 2.48: 'fi'ows through pipe 35dand" thence through port's formed in block 231' and communicating: with axially extending slots (not shown) in the" inner end of sleeve 253 whereby the-oil is returned through pipe to valve 35.

When oil flow is reversed by master valve 3'5 to permit the oil to flow tlilrougliv pipe 35a and port's-"formed cylinder 251 and communicating around,

with 'ZPiPBS 35a and respectively, :sleeve 253 is 'forcedlto the left by the "LDIGSBIII'B :.of the fluid flowing from pipe35a'to pipe 35d, allowingmaximum flowthroughport'2.5.5:.into port 251 .of the fluid displaced from cylinder 248 :through v:pipe

1 350. The outerend nf sleeve 253 now engages the base portion 25. 511. of stop 2:54 andithe oilreturned through pipe 3'5o'flows from port .255 through the;

2I'4 and 21.5. 'Lat'ch259 is tunlockediby engage ment with a stationary cam piece-dfidwhen bracket 2I2 .isat the -:I6X131'8I1I8 left positionto permit the bar 244b,.rwhen .1pis'ton rod :244a..is moved downwardly, .to lower the roller. 211a and thereby swing arms 221-4 and l2I5 downwardly :as described above. After :arin 52M .-is Lswung upwardly into horizontal position "by the co-action of the transverseslotin bar 24% with the-shaft 2 Ifia, as shown iniFIigs. :8Dand-BE, the step eat the 7 rear end :of arm 2 I 4 will be engaged .by the latch 259 when the latter is I locked upon disengaging cam apiece 1268 during the forward "movement of bracket 212. In this manner the arms .2I4 and 2 I15 :are maintained in .a horizontal position while the rolling pin moves to :the end or its .forwa'rd stroke and then :returns to its initial position.

Certain safety devices rarezincorpora'ted in the bunch rolling table. For examp1e,.in case bracket 2I2 fails to return to its initial position wherein latch 259 engages block .260 the ttollowing will occur. The bracket 2122, it should :he said, might fail to return in :case anunduly large bunch charge was .deposited on the rolling :apron which might cause the rider plate to jam and thereby stop the movement of the rolling pin; but the corrugated cutter 1'33 :and the knife 123 :would continue to operate and might .cause i urther jamming.

To obviate the same there :isprovided alever 265 secured to a vertical-"shaft 261 suitably :supported in the table L of the machine. To the lower end of shaft 261 is fastened :an arm 269 which is provided with a lug 210. A spring 21 2 connected to lever 265 and anchored on a post 214 on table L is adapted 'to'move arm 269 into a position wherein its lug .210 underlies thecam lever 32L of the master valve 32 when the roll-' ing pin reaches the end of its forward stroke across the" rolling table. A link=216 connects am 269 to an arm 218 provided-with a lug219 and mounted on a vertical shaft supported in the bed of the machine. Thus, when lug 210 of arm 239 is moved underneath cam lever 32L, lug -21-9- o-f arm 218 will" be moved underneath cam lever 31L of master 'valve 31. 'Ihus, whenever stop screw 28I threaded into a block secured torack 210 fails to return to the position shown in Fig. 8 wherein it engages a post 283 onarm- 265, the lugs210 and 219 will remain underneath the cam levers 32L and 31L and the operation of the corrugated cutter I33, pressure plate I44 and knife I23 will be stopped. If the stop-screw 281 is returned to this position it will displace thelever 269 sufficiently to move lugs 210 and 21.9 from underneath cam levers 32L and 31L-and permit the operation of the, cutter I33 and knife 18 I23 to continue. Since the knife I23 is stopped at its innermost position, the tobacco :column in the magazine I21 will be supported on the knife I23. Moreover the operation of the cross-feed will also be interrupted until the operation of cutter I33 is resumed.

On shaft '2I4 (Figs. 8C, 8D, 8E, 8F and 8G) there may beprovided'a torsion'springltda which is anchored at one end to the bracket :2I-2 and connected at its other end to the link 214. The torsion spring serves to maintain the arm 2I4 in a horizontal position except when lowered by bar 1244b. Therefore if the latch 259 should be accidentally disengaged from the step on the rear end of arm 25s the arms 2I4 and 2I5 will not swing downwardly.

Due to my improved mechanism for operating the rider plate to form the loop in the apron it is possible to separate the bunch charge while the lower .end of, the tobacco column is supported on the apron, without providing excessive space beneath thelowerend of the column for swingingjthe rider plate forwardly on to the separated bunch charger Moreover -.no additional 111E011.

' anism .for forming theloop. in the apron is required, as in prior constructions wherein the bunch charge, is displaced horizontally along the rolling, apron to a position at which the loop is formed .at one sideof the charge.

A further advantage of .the construction of the hydraulic motor '2'3I for operating the take-up roller 239 of the bunch rolling apron is that the elaborate mechanism now :usedpfor tightening the bunch .rollingxapro'n to expel the cigar bunch from thezl'oop the apron is dispensed with. When the cigar hunch is formed in the loop of the apron and advanced therein to a position overlying thefingers2 5ll and 25011, the slack is removed ifrom' the bunch. rolling apron by the counter-clockwise rotation. of 17116101101 234 of motor 23I and the bunch is expelled from the loop into these fingers as the loop is straightened out by tightening the..-:apron. Moreover the amount -.of slack providedin theapron for the formation, of the 2100p therein controlled by stops 232, Y235 and 233,236. Thus the amountof clockwise rotation of theta'ke-np :roller, when the slack is played out, is controlled.

Inxview of theirforegoing it will be evidentthat with theembodiment :of the hydraulically operated cigar machineexemplified herein I am able to reduce its costand .weight by elimination of such items as heavy and expensive cams, shafts, and driving connections. Moreover there is less danger or injury from moving parts of the machine.

What is claimed is:

'1. In a cigarmachine, the combination with a horizontal knife underlying and supporting the lower end-of a vertical column of long filler tobacco, of a a bunch .rolling apron :having a =portion underlying the portion of said knife supporting the tobacco column, means for operating said knife to. retract it whereby the column will be deposited on the apron and the .knife :moved across the lower end of said column after it is deposited on said apron, .to separate .a bunch charge therefrom, ai'rolling pin having an axial shaft arranged beneath said apron and extending transversely thereof behind the bunch charge supported thereon and adapted to advance aloop in the'apron-torol-l the bunch-charge in a binder to form a cigar. bunch, a rider plate pivotally mounted ontheaxial shaft of said rolling pin,

and instrumentalities supporting said rolling pin and constructed and arranged to swing the rolling pin in a downward arc with the rider plate to cause the rider plate to form a loop in the apron and then to swing the rider plate up and forwardly into a position resting on the bunch charge supported on the rolling apron to cause the charge to be coiled upon itself when said loop is advanced by the rolling pin.

2. In a cigar machine, the combination with a bunch rolling apron adapted to support a cigar bunch charge upon a portion thereof, a rolling pin arranged beneath said apron and extending transversely thereof behind said bunch charge, a rider plate pivoted co-axial to said rolling pin and having its inner edge extending across the portion of said apron between said rolling pin and bunch charge, and mechanism supporting said rolling pin and constructed and arranged to swing said rolling pin in a downward arc with said rider plate to form a loop in the apron and then to swing said rider plate forwardly into a position resting on said bunch charge.

3. In a cigar machine, the combination with a bunch rolling apron adapted to support a cigar bunch charge upon a portion thereof, a rolling pin adapted to be arranged beneath said apron and extending transversely thereof behind said bunch charge, a rider plate pivotally mounted co-axial to said rolling pin and having its inner edge extending across the portion of said apron between said rolling pin and bunch charge, mechanism for moving said'rolling pin vertically with said rider plate to form a loop in the apron and then swing said rider plate forwardly into a position resting on said bunch charge, said mechanism including a horizontally movable support, a pair of horizontal arms pivoted on said support, a shaft mounted in said arms, said rolling pin and rider plate being mounted on said shaft, and instrumentalities for lowering said arms to cause the formation of the loop in the apron by said rider plate.

4. In a cigar machine, the combination with a bunch rolling apron adapted to support a cigar bunch charge upon a portion thereof, a rolling pin adapted to be arranged beneath said apron and extending transversely thereof behind said bunch charge, a rider plate pivoted co-axial to said rolling pin and having its inner edge extending across the portion of said apron between said rolling pin and bunch charge, mechanism for moving said rolling pin vertically with said rider plate to form a loop in the apron and then swing said rider plate forwardly into a position resting on said bunch charge, said mechanism including a horizontally movable support, a pair of horizontal arms pivoted on said support, a shaft mounted in said arms, said rolling pin and rider plate being mounted on said shaft, instrumentalities for lowering said arms to cause the formation of the loop in the apron by said rider plate, and then raising said arms to a horizontal position, and a latch adapted to retain said arms in a horizontal position after they are raised by said instrumentalities.

5. In a cigar machine, the combination with a bunch rolling apron adapted to support a cigar bunch charge upon a portion thereof, a rolling pin adapted to be arranged beneath said apron and extending transversely thereof behind said bunch charge, a rider plate pivotally mounted in axial alignment with said rolling pin and having its inner edge extending across the portion of said apron between said rolling pin and bunch charge, mechanism for moving said rolling pin vertically with said rider plate to form a loop in the apron and then swing said rider plate forwardly into a position resting on said bunch charge, said mechanism including a horizontally movable support, a pair of horizontal arms pivoted on said support, a shaft mounted in said arms, said rolling pin and rider plate being mounted on said shaft, instrumentalities for lowering said arms to cause the formation of the loop in the apron by said rider plate, and then raising said arms to a horizontal position, a latch adapted to retain said arms in a horizontal position after they are raised by said instrumentalities, means for moving said rolling pin forwardly to traverse said loop forwardly along the apron while the bunch charge is held down by the rider plate and thereby coil the charge upon itself within said loop and then roll the coiled charge within a binder positioned on the apron to form a cigar bunch, and a device for swinging said rider plate upwardly after the bunch charge is coiled upon itself and before the coiled bunch charge is rolled within the binder.

6. In a cigar machine, the combination with a bunch rolling apron, of means for forming a loop in said apron, a bunch rolling pin extending transversely of and underneath said apron and adapted to advance the loop in said apron with a bunch charge positioned in said loop, and means for advancing said rolling pin to advance the loop in the apron and thereby advance the bunch charge positioned therein and roll it within a binder positioned on said apron, said means including a two-way hydraulic control valve for automatically varying the force imparted to the rolling pin to advance the same in conformity with the resistance of the bunch charge being advanced within the loop of the apron to be rolled within a binder.

7. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling apron, means for forming a, loop in said apron, and a bunch rolling pin extending transversely of and underneath said apron and adapted to advance the loop in said apron with a bunch charge positioned in said loop, the means for advancing said rolling pin to advance the loop in the apron and thereby advance the bunch charge positioned therein and roll it within a binder positioned on said apron and to return said rolling pin, said means including mechanism for automatically varying the force imparted to the rolling pin to advance the same in conformity with the resistance of the bunch charge. being advanced within the loop of the apron to be rolled within a binder, said mechanism including a cylinder, a piston slidably mounted in said cylinder and connected to said rolling pin, and a device for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder to displace said piston in either direction, said device including instrumentalities for automatically controlling the pressure of the fluid supplied to said cylinder during its advance in one direction in accordance with the resistance of a bunch being advanced within the apron loop for rolling within a binder.

8. In a cigar machine having a bunch rolling table and a bunch rolling apron on said table, the apron being secured to the table at one end; a take-up roller to which the other end of the apron is secured, means to provide constant torque to said take-up roller, said means comprising an hydraulic motor connected to said roller and adapted to turn said roller in one direction to provide sufiicient slaclain the apron for the formation of a loop therein, and subsequently turn 

